Flower holder and box



. June 28, 1949. R. l. McLELLAN 2,474,543

FLOWER HOLDER ND Box Filed April 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 2l. 524 ',25 2z. ,25 zz.

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` June 28, 1949. R. McLELLAN FLOWER H OLDER AND BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1948 INVEN TOR Ruraux I. N'Le/ Lmv BY v g@ M, y@ 'nm/elven Patentedtlune 28, 1949 FLOWER HOLDER AND BOX Roderick I. McLellan, Calma, Calif., signor to E. W. McLellan Cc., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Califo Application April 2, 1948, Serial No. 18,605

Claims. (Cl. 20S-45.14)

This invention relates to a ilower holder and has for one of its objects the provision of a combination flower holder and display container in which flowers are adapted to be held against jostling around during shipment and handling and are protected from being bruised by accidental distortion of the holder or box, and on which holder the said owers are in a position for presenting an attractive display without rearrangement yet the lndividualflowers may easily and quickly be removed from the holder as desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a holder in the form of a container or box having an open top that is easily and quickly folded to a set-up position without glue, rivets, cement or the like, and which box is provided with simple means integral with the blank from which it is formed for preventing the bending of the side walls along their upper edges.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a flower package in which the flowers themselves function as a means for holding supports therefor in a desired display position secured within a box in which they are adapted to be viewed.

An additional object is the provision of a flower display and carrying box in which a wrapper enclosing the said box cooperates with means on the box for preventing such accidental distortion of the box sides that would be likely to injure the flowers in the box.

An added object is an improved method of packaging flowers in folding boxes by which the flowers are prevented from being accidentally inlured.

While the present invention is adapted for use in holding and protecting many kinds of flowers,

it will be hereafter described in connection with such flowers as gardenias, camellias, or the like. in which it is customary to provide wire stems to individual blossoms that are backed by a neat arrangement of leaves so the individual flowers may readily be worn by persons. However, the invention is not limited to such flowers.

The blossoms of gardenias and camellias are quite valuable and in handling, shipping and displaying them, they should not be rubbed together or bruised. If loose packed, such rubbing and jostling inevitably occurs and furthermore they must be handled by the retailer to rearrange them for display inasmuch as the blossoms are individually sold and the customers inspect them individually.

With the present invention, the blossoms have the minimum handling, the first step being to secure them in the box in display position, and they need have no further handling until selected by. the individual purchaser, nor are they jostled together during the time between packaging and final sale. Also the holder for the blossoms is such that the possibility of accidental distortion of the same to the injury of the flowers is reduced to the minimum consistent with economical packaging, and the filled holders or packages are readily stacked without injury thereto.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.

In the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the holder and box is formed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one end portion of the blank with several flowers in position secured to the bottom of the box or holder that the blank is adapted to form.

Fig, 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of several owers secured to said bottom illustrating the inclined position of the flowers and the manner in which the stems cooperate with the holder for supporting said flowers in said position.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a finished package holding the flowers with the wrapper in position holding the stiiener flanges on the side walls in `operative position to prevent bending of said side Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of one endof the package of Fig. 4 with two of the opposed side walls indicated in an intermediate folding position in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged part sectional side view showing the manner in which the flanges on two of the side walls prevent inward movement of the other two walls.

In detail, the blank-from which the holder is formed is a single sheet of cardboard (preferably waterproofed) that is formed with a pair of spaced parallel folding creases i extending in one direction and a pair of parallel spaced folding creases 2 extending at right angles thereto.

' These creases define a central rectangular portion 3 that is the bottom of the box or holder. This bottom may be square or oblong according to the relative lengths of the pairs of folding creases l, 2. In the form shown in the drawing, creases I are longer than the vcreases 2, therefore, the bottom is oblong andthe box will be elongated.

Outwardly of creases 2 are portions 4, 5 that will form two of the opposed side walls of the box when said portions are folded to positions at right angles to the bottom wall 3 and outwardly of creases i are portions v6, 1 that will form the other two opposed side walls of the box when folded to the same side of the bottom wall as the portions Along the outer edges of portions 4, 5 are folding creases 5 I0 that are parallel with the creases 2, while folding creases II, I2 are along the outer edges of portions i, 1 and are parallel with creases I. Thesefolding creases 3 to I2 are substantially equally spaced from the outer edges ofthe portions carrying each of them and the outer edges of said portions are parallel with the said creases whereby said creases will define the inner edges of marginal strips I3, I4, Il, I8 that are respectively on side walls 4, 5, I, 1, and said marginal portions are folded inwardly relative to the sides of the box when said side walls are in positions normal to the bottom wall 3 to provide stiifening :danges along the upper edges `of said side walls. Such flanges will stiften the side walls against accidental distortion or bending and also facilitate stacking the boxes.

At the ends of side walls l, 1 are extension flaps I 1, III, I9, 20, the flaps I1, Il being on side wall l and flaps I9, 20 being on wall 1. Longitudinal extensions 2| of creases 2 dene the junctures between the said flaps and said side walls and also provide for folding the flaps to positions at right angles to said side walls.

These flaps each are notched along one of their edges to provide lobes 22 that are adapted to extend through slits 23 formed in the side walls 4, 5 when the latter, including walls 6, 1, are normal to the bottom wall and the flaps I1 to 20 are folded against the opposltely outwardly facing sides of the walls 4, 5. The insertion of said lobes through said slits as seen in Fig. 5 releasably holds the walls 4 to 1 inclusive at right angles to the bottom wall, and with the adjacent ends of the adjacent side walls together.

The bottom wall 3 of the holder has aps 25 stamped therefrom These flaps are generally rectangular and are equally spaced apart in spaced parallel rows with one of their correspondingly positioned edges integrally joined to the bottom wall along crease lines 26 (Fig. l). Thus the flaps may be bent upwardly into the box along crease lines 26 to inclined positions in which the flaps 25 are substantially in parallel planes that are inclined relative to the bottom wall 3.

Each flap 25 is formed with a circular opening 21 that is slit out along slit 28 to the free edge of the flap opposite the crease line 26.

The said free edge, which is parallel with folding crease 26, is notched at 29 to the slit, the latter extending from the apex of the notch to facilitate slipping a stem of a flower through the slit and into the opening 21. Slits 30 extend radially from the opening 21 to enable expanding the opening to accommodate different sized stems or the calyxes of the flowers.

In using the words ,stem or stems in the description and claims, the same are intended to cover artificial stems, such as the conventional wires that are secured to the calyx of the flower or to the blossom itself, and which wires are usually wrapped or covered by suitable material.

In making up a flower package the operator lays the blank out flat with the side walls 4 to 1 coplanar with bottom wall 3. Each tab is bent up and the stem 32 of the ower is insertedinto opening 21- through slit 2l. The stem is then pulled longitudinally so that the enlargement 3| of the stem will be pulled into opening 21 causing the segments of the aps 225 between slits 30 to bend slightly for expanding the hole and the said sections will tightly grip said enlargement for rmly holding the ower in position on the nap.

The stem of the flower extends over the opening in the bottom left by the ilap when the latter is bent up and rests on the bottom 3 adjacent the opening thus acting as a prop for holding the flap inclined.

Strips 33 of moistened cotton or the like may be placed in the box and partially orwholly under the blossoms or the leaves 34 that form 'a backing for each blossom 35. These strips will be held in place by the flowers so as not to shift around or become displaced, and the evaporation of the moisture supplies sufficient moisture within the box, after a wrapperencloses the latter, to maintain the blossoms in fresh condition for a relatively long period of time.

After the flowers are all secured to the flaps 25 of bottom 3, the sides -4 to 1 are folded upward to positions at right angles-to the bottom and the end flaps I1 to 20 are swung over the opposltely outwardly facing sides of the side walls 6, 1. The lobes 22 of said tabs are inserted in slits 23 in walls 4, 5 thereby releasably locking the side walls together in upstanding position.

After the box is formed as above,'the marginal strips I5, I6 are bent toward each other and then the marginal strips I3, I4 are bent toward each other so that the ends of said strips I3, I4 will overlap the ends of strips Il, I6. The strips I3 to I6 when so bent form flanges that prevent the buckling or bending of the .side walls, and the overlapping' of the ends of anges I3, I4 over the ends of flanges I5, IB will prevent walls 4, 5 from being bent inwardly by external pressure, as would be the case were the flanges I5, I6 to overlap flanges I3, I4.

The box is then positioned within a transparent wrapper 35 of regenerated cellulose or rubber hy drochloride or the like, and the wrapper is heat sealed thereby making the package substantially moisture-proof and at the same time holding the flanges I3 to I5 in their folded position to resist bending or distortion of the side walls'. Said flanges also facilitate the stacking of the packages without injury thereto.

It is obvious, of course, that the marginal portions I3 to I6 may be folded over before the side walls are folded up instead of afterward, but in any event the flanges I3, I4 should overlap flanges I5, I6 as described and as shown in Figs. l, 6 in order to obtain the best results,

When the box is received by the ultimate dealer the same may be opened by releasing the tabs I1 to 20 from the walls 4, 5. and the flowers removed by slipping the stems out through slits 28. The flowers so removed will not have been bruised in any way inasmuch as there is no interferencefrom the side walls.

As already suggested, the boxes may be larger or smaller according to the number of flowers to be placed in each or the size of the flowers. The

proportions and structure herein described are particularly suitable for large gardenias, although it is equally well suited to blossoms of similar size from other plants.

' therefrom for insertion of the stems of flowers through the apertures in said tabs for holding a flower on each tab, said tabs being separate and spaced from each other with at least one aperture to each tab and each tab being free for folding to a position coplanar with said bottom wall upon removal of the flower therefrom, said tabs being arranged in spaced relationship and inclined whereby the stems of the flowers adapted to be supported by said tabs will extend slantingly into engagement with the said bottom wall behind the opening left by said tab. l

2. A flower holder comprising a box including a bottom wall formed with a plurality of apertured tabs partially stamped and integrally united therewith and projecting upwardly therefrom for insertion of the stems of flowers through the apertures in said tabs for holding a flower on each tab, said tabs being separate and spaced from each other with one aperture to each tab and each tab being free for folding to a-position coplanar with said bottom Wall upon remo-val of the `ilower therefrom, said tabs being arranged in parallel rows and inclined 4whereby the stems of the flowers adapted to be supported by said tabs will extend slantingly into engagement with the said bottom wall behind the opening left by said tab.

3. A flower holder comprising a box including a bottom Wall formed with a plurality of apertured tabs partially stamped and integrally united therewith and projecting angularly upwardly therefrom for insertion of the stems of flowers through the apertures in said tabs for holding a,

flower on each tab, said tabs being separate from each other with one aperture to each tab and each tab being free for folding to a position coplanar with said bottom wall upon removal of the flower therefrom, said tabs being arranged in parallel rows and similarly inclined whereby the stems of the flowers adapted to be supported by said tabs will extend slantingly into engagement with the said bottomwall behind the opening left by said tab.

4. In a flower package including a ower holder, said holder comprising, a flat sheet of material formed with corresponding, generally U-shaped cuts respectively defining the free edges of tabs having apertures therein, said cuts being spaced from each other and the edges of said sheet, straight folding creases respectively extending between the ends of each cut, a flower blossom having a stem extending through each of said apertures, said tabs being bent along saidV folding creases to inclined positions relative to said sheet, the said stem in each of said apertures extending substantially axially thereof in direction toward said sheet and into engagement with the latter for holding each of said tabs in said inclined position, the edges of said apertures being in frictional engagement with each stem adjacent said blossom for holding the stem and tab together against accidental movement relative to each other.

5. In a flower package including a ower holder, said holder comprising, a flat sheet of cardboard formed with corresponding, generally ,U-shaped cuts respectively defining the free edges of tabs having apertures therein, said cuts being positioned in said sheet withtheir ends pointing in the same direction, said cuts being spaced from each other and the edges of said sheet, parallel straight folding creases respectively extending between the ends of each cut, a flower blossom vhaving a stem extending through each of said apertures, said tabs being bent along said folding creases to substantially inclined positions relative to said sheet, the said stem in each of said apertures extending substantially axially thereof in direction toward said sheet and into engagement with the latter for holding each of said tabs in said inclined position, the edges of said aperturesbeing in frictional engagement with each stem adjacent said blossom for holding the stem I and tab together against accidental movement relative to each other.

RODERICK 1. MCLELLAN.

:REFERENCES CITED l The following ,references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name i Date 399,891 Harley Mar. 19, 1889 1,064,813 Bloomberg June 17, 1913 1,065,404 Helens June 24, 1913 1,803,602 Dey May 5, 1931 2,007,046 Friedman July 2, 1935 2,058,147 Gustafson Oct. 20, 1936 2,087,259 Mortenson July 20, 1937 2,135,134 Ehlers Nov. 1, 1938 2,278,524 Parker Apr. 7, 1942 2,279,471 Laycock Apr. 14, 1942 2,348,488 McLellan May 9, 1944 2,358,295 Bacigalupi Sept. 19, 1944 2,459,565 Lee Jan. 18, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 838,744 France Dec. 16, 1938 

